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Spotlight on the Health Sciences

Public Health, Community Health

Public health touches every aspect of our lives on a daily basis—from the food we eat, to the buildings we work and live in, to the safety of the cars we drive, to the quality of the air we breathe and to the water we drink. A nation’s economy, national defense, and the quality of its citizens’ lives depend in large part on the strength of the public’s health and on the systems that support it.

In the US, public health efforts are the reason Americans today can expect to live on average 30 years longer than their ancestors a century ago; why polio has been eradicated; why the number of people who smoke and the related deaths decline every year; why we can drink from our taps without thinking twice. By promoting healthy behavior, preventing disease and protecting communities, public health initiatives help contain the costs society pays for health care.

Public health ultimately is about your personal health, and that of your family, friends, and neighbors.

Some images courtesy of http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/home.asp

Meet Cal Scientists!

How are these Cal scientists making lives around the world healthier? Just click on each picture to find out!

Martyn T. Smith Professor of Toxicology School of Public Health Div. of Environmental Health Sciences